South Dorset MPA

South Dorset MCZ is a joint inshore and offshore
site, 30-60m deep, located approximately 17.5km south of
St Albans Head, to the south-east of Swanage. Natural England and
JNCC are responsible for the advising on the site’s protected
features within and outside 12nm respectively.

South Dorset MCZ protects three seabed
habitats, moderate energy circalittoral rock, subtidal coarse
sediment and subtidal chalk. The MCZ is important as it protects
exposed outcrops of subtidal chalk in relatively deep water (over
50m) despite this habitat usually found in shallower water
(5-20m) on the south-east and eastern coasts of the UK.

The acquisition of new data may result in updates to our
knowledge on feature presence and extent within this site. The most
up to date information is reflected on the map at the top of the
page and in JNCC's MPA map,with the evidence underpinning
available in the Evidence tab.

Conservation AdviceJNCC's
conservation advice for this site is produced jointly with Natural
England and is accessible through the Conservation Advice
tab.

Relevant Documentation

The documents referred to below and any other historical
documents relating to South Dorset MCZ were produced
during the selection and designation process and therefore may be
out of date. This site information centre is the most
up-to-date source of information for South Dorset MCZ, and will
reflect any additional information gathered since these documents
were produced. Further information about the MCZ site selection
process and historic MCZ advice is available on JNCCs MCZ
pages.

South Dorset MCZ Designation Order (2013) - Official
description of the site designation under the Marine and Coastal
Access Act 2009 including the boundary coordinates,
conservation objectives and a list of the designated features.

Summary

Last updated: October 2017

This site summary was adapted from the
MCZ Site Report and incorporates any information gathered since
this document was produced. Please refer to the report for further
details and information sources.

Site overview

South Dorset MCZ is located approximately 17.5km south of
St Alban’s Head, to the south-east of Swanage. The site lies
approximately 4km to the west of Wight-Barfleur cSAC/SCI,
and 5km south of
Studland to Portland SAC. The seabed in the MCZ is
characterised by circalittoral rock with overlaying deposits of
subtidal coarse sediment of varying depth. The eastern half of the
site has longitudinal furrows of alternating cobbles and gravel,
oriented in the direction of the tide. Bryozoans such as the sea
mat (Electra
pilosa) and hornwrack (Flustra
foliacea), sea squirts such as orange sea grapes
(Stolonica
socialis) and the baked bean ascidian (Dendrodoa
grossularia), and encrusting sponges dominate rocky
areas within the site. Crustaceans such as the long-clawed
porcelain crab (Pisidia
longicornis) and common spider crab (Maja
brachydactyla) hide in the crevices and cobbles in
furrows. In addition, the great scallop (Pecten
maximus), common sunstar (Crossaster
papposus) and goose foot starfish (Anseropoda
placenta) can be found in areas of subtidal coarse
sediment, and the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus
canicula) has also been found at the site.

South Dorset MCZ was originally recommended by the
Finding Sanctuary regional project in 2011 to help meet the
broad-scale habitat targets set and due to the occurrence of
subtidal chalk within the site. South Dorset MCZ was designated in
2013 for subtidal coarse sediment and subtidal chalk. Since the
site was recommended, further data analysis and an additional
site survey in 2013 confirmed the presence of moderate energy
circalittoral rock and subtidal chalk within the site. A new
modelled habitat map based on the 2013 site survey data was also
produced that revised the extent of subtidal mixed sediments and
subtidal coarse sediment within the site.

A further survey was carried out by Natural
England in 2015, identifying the presence of high energy
circalittoral rock within the MCZ. This feature is being
recommended as an additional protected feature for the site in
Tranche Three. The details of this recommendation, data from the
survey and reports produced of which will be available in due
course. Further detail on the evidence for this MCZ can be found on
the Evidence tab.

Site boundary description: The site is a simple
polygon with boundary lines running north to south and east to west
in line with the MCZ projects ecological
network guidance. The boundary of South Dorset MCZ was
developed by the
Finding Sanctuary regional project and has not changed since it
was recommended in 2011. The site boundary was guided by
information on renewable energy companies and the round 3 wind farm
licensing area, and intersects the 12 nm territorial seas boundary
line.

Evidence

Last updated: October 2017

A full overview of the data used to support site
identification and information on confidence in feature presence
and extent is available in Natural England's
2013 Tranche
One post-consultation advice and their
2015 Tranche
Two post-consultation advice for proposed features for
designation. Some of the data for this MCZ has been collected
through JNCC-funded or collaborative surveys, with other data
obtained through other data sourcing. The data gathered provide
direct evidence confirming the presence of the protected features
within the site. Additional survey data will be added to the
JNCC MPA map in due course.

Survey and data gathering

South Dorset MCZ Baseline Monitoring Survey (2015) -
Cefas-led survey that aimed to establish monitoring sample stations
for the site and collect further data to determine the extent of
subtidal chalk in the site. Video, images, acoustic data and grab
samples were collected across the site. Reporting is underway and
will be made available in due course.

South Dorset MCZ Survey (2013) - JNCC and Natural England
collaborated with Cefas on two MCZ site verification surveys to
South Dorset MCZ, funded through the MB0120 Defra data collection
project. Video, images, acoustic data and grab samples were
collected across the site.

Data analysis reports

EUSeaMap (2016)
- Provides supporting information on the presence and extent
of moderate energy circalittoral rock and subtidal
coarse sediment from a predictive seabed habitat map of European
waters.

South Dorset MCZ MB0120 site report (2014) - Cefas
undertook analysis of the data collected on the South Dorset MCZ
survey (2013). The data, analysed as part of the MB0120 Defra
contract, led to the creation of a revised habitat map that has
been used to inform the presence of broad-scale habitats within the
MCZ.

Additional relevant literature

References for further supporting scientific literature
consulted during the identification of this site can be found in
Natural England’s
2013 post-consultation,
2015 pre-consultation and 2016
post-consultation advice. Please be aware that
although these sources contain information in relation to this MPA,
they do not necessarily represent the views of JNCC.

Knowledge gapsIf you are aware of any
additional data not listed here or scientific
papers relevant to this site, please contact
JNCC.

Conservation Advice

Last updated: October 2017

Updated joint conservation advice
package available in April 2018.

Conservation
objectivesConservation objectives set out the
desired state for the protected feature(s) of an MPA.

The conservation objectives for
the protected features of an MPA are useful if you are:

Planning measures to conserve the site and its protected
features;

Monitoring the condition of the protected features; and/or

Developing, proposing or assessing an activity, plan or project
that may affect the protected features of the site.

The conservation objectives for the protected features
of South Dorset MCZ are subject to natural change, the
moderate energy circalittoral rock, subtidal coarse
sediment and subtidal chalk features are
to remain in or be brought into favourable
condition, such that their:

Extent is stable or increasing; and

Structures and functions, quality, and the composition of their
characteristic biological communities are such as to ensure that it
is in a condition which is healthy and not deteriorating.

In addition to the conservation
objectives, General Management Approaches (GMAs) have been set by
JNCC to provide a view as to whether a feature needs to be
maintained in or be brought into favourable condition (i.e.
recover), based on our knowledge about each features condition.

Advice on
operations Section 127 of the Marine and Coastal
Access Act (2009) states that JNCC may provide advice and
guidance regarding matters capable of damaging or otherwise
affecting the protected features of an MCZ. Towards this, JNCC has
published the following advice on activities that are capable of
damaging or otherwise affecting protected features in MCZs:

JNCC also provides a list of activities occurring within the Fulmar
MCZ and information on management within the activities and
management tab. JNCC has provided this to aid the cumulative
assessment of impacts of human activities within the MCZ.
While every attempt has been made to ensure this information is
accurate and up-to-date, the list is not exhaustive or definitive.
For example, the list does not include activities occurring offsite
that may also be capable of affecting the protected features.

For the most up-to-date information on the
biological communities present within the site and their spatial
distribution, please see the evidence tab. Sensitivity information
for the protected features within the site can be found in a
technical report commissioned by Defra to support the MCZ
designation process.

The information contained within the evidence tab, the
activities and management tab, the
technical report and the advice listed above on activities
which are capable of damaging or otherwise affecting the protected
features in MCZs are useful if you are:

Carrying out any activity that may impact the protected
features of the site and need to find out how to operate within the
law;

An authority providing advice on specific proposals;
and/or

An authority responsible for putting management measures in
place.

Our scientific understanding of the ecology of the protected
features of the site and how activities can affect them may change
over time. Similarly the activities taking place within the site
may also change. JNCCs conservation advice will be kept under
review and will be periodically updated to reflect this. Further
information on JNCCs conservation advice work is available on the
offshore MPA conservation advice
webpage.

Activities and Management

Last updated: October 2017

Management
status:Progressing
towards being well managed

The vulnerability assessment conducted for
this site suggests the Moderate energy circalittoral rock and
Subtidal chalk features are unlikely to be moving towards their
conservation objectives, while the Subtidal coarse sediment feature
may be achieving or moving towards its conservation objective.
Directed site condition monitoring is needed to improve our
confidence in this assessment. Progress is ongoing with regards to
the recommendation of a fisheries management proposal to the
European Commission.

JNCC consider ‘well-managed’ to mean the timely progress of an
MPA around the ‘MPA management cycle’. This involves:

The documentation of
appropriate management information - conservation objectives,
advice on activities capable of affecting the protected features of
a site, and spatial information on the presence and extent of the
protected features of a site.

The implementation of
management measures - management actions considered necessary to
achieve the conservation objectives of a site.

Assessment of progress towards
conservation objectives – using available information to infer
whether or not a site is moving towards or has achieved its
conservation objectives.

The sub-sections that follow provide an account of the progress
of South Dorset MCZ around each of these four stages in the MPA
management cycle.

The documentation of appropriate management
information

The conservation objectives and advice on activities capable of
affecting the conservation status of the protected feature of this
site are available under the conservation advice tab.

JNCC are in the process of improving our MPA conservation
advice packages. Further information is available on our conservation
advice pages.

Spatial information on the presence and extent of the protected
feature of this MPA is available via JNCCs MPA mapper.

JNCC are in the process of developing downloadable MPA data
packages where appropriate permissions to share datasets are in
place.

The implementation of management measures

This section details progress towards the implementation of
management measures for activities considered capable of affecting
the conservation status of the protected features of the site. The
protected features of the site are considered to be sensitive to
pressures associated with fishing and ‘licensable’ activities.

Fisheries

Vessel monitoring data
indicate that towing of mobile demersal gear and some pelagic
trawling also occur within the MCZ.

In the 6-12 nautical
mile (nm) portion of the site, the Marine Management Organisation
(MMO) can introduce measures (e.g. bylaws) to manage fishing
activity where appropriate. Such measures would be developed
following individual site assessments and subsequent stakeholder
engagement. Where other Member States (OMS) have historic fishing
access rights (in this case the French fleet), any management
proposals would need to follow processes laid out in Article 18 of
the revised
EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The portion of the site
beyond 12 nm will be exclusively managed under the CFP. In
accordance with Article 18, requests for management will be
developed jointly between the UK Government and any Member States
with a direct management interest in the area affected. MMO are the
lead authority regarding the implementation of, and compliance
with, any measures to managing fishing activity. Further
information on progress is available via
MMO webpages.

Licensable activities

Whilst licensable activities
such as oil and gas exploration and production do not take place
within this MPA, any future proposals would be managed in
accordance with the clauses set out under Section
127 of The Marine & Coastal Access Act (2009). Under this
clause, JNCC have a statutory responsibility to advise the
regulator on developments that are capable of affecting (other than
insignificantly) the protected features of the MPA and that may
hinder the achievement of the sites conservation objectives. JNCC
consider that the existing marine licensing process is sufficient
to ensure the management of licensable activities taking place, or
that could take place in the future, on the protected features of
this MPA.

The site is located between
shipping lanes and is subject to a relatively low level of
shipping. Under international law, ships have a right of passage,
including through MPAs (unless management specifies the restriction
of ship transiting through an International Maritime Organisation
measure). The pressures associated with shipping activity
within South Dorset MCZ are not considered likely to impact the
protected features of the site.

Ministry of Defence activity

The site is within a Ministry
of Defence (MoD) exercise area. The MoD has incorporated all
designated MPAs into their Environmental Protection Guidelines
(Maritime) and wider Marine Environmental and Sustainability
Assessment Tool. These guidelines are used
to manage MoD activity to minimise the associated risks to the
environment.

Recreational activity

A Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
cruising route crosses the eastern part of the site. Recreational
use data indicates the site could also be subject to recreational
boat based sea angling and scuba diving.

Wrecks

Seven wrecks have been recorded by the
UK Hydrographic Office within the site.

Site condition monitoring

A baseline condition monitoring survey took place in 2015 to
establish monitoring stations for the site. Video, images, acoustic
data and grab samples were collected across the site. Reporting is
underway and will be made available under the Monitoring
tab in due course.

Progression towards conservation objectives

No long-term condition monitoring data is available to determine
whether the MPA is moving towards or has reached its conservation
objectives. The vulnerability assessment conducted for this site
suggests the Moderate energy circalittoral rock and Subtidal chalk
features are unlikely to be moving towards their conservation
objectives, while the Subtidal coarse sediment feature may be
achieving or moving towards its conservation objective. Directed
site condition monitoring is needed to improve our confidence in
this assessment. Further information will be provided under the
Assessment tab as it becomes available. Progress
is ongoing with regards to the recommendation of a fisheries
management proposal to the European Commission.

Monitoring

Last updated: October 2017

JNCC is currently leading on the
development of a strategy for biodiversity monitoring across all UK
waters, to include MPA monitoring. For MPAs, data and evidence
collected from monitoring activities will aim to:

enable assessment of condition of the
features within sites;

enable assessment of the degree to which
management measures are effective in achieving the conservation
objectives for the protected features;

support the identification of priorities for
future protection and/or management; and

enable the government to fulfil its national
and international assessment and reporting commitments in relation
to MPAs and help identify where further action may be
required.

Information on
monitoring of South Dorset MCZ will be provided when it
becomes available.

Assessment

Last updated: October 2017

Assessments of the condition of
designated features in offshore MPAs are required to report against
our legal obligations. Ideally these assessments are based on
observed data, and then measured against targets for pre-defined
indicators. However, for MPAs in offshore waters the appropriate
information is not always available particularly for seabed
habitats, which are the main type of designated features within
offshore MPAs.

To address these challenges,
JNCC has been an active partner in developing new approaches and
tools for the assessment of habitats and species for a variety of
national and international status reports. These tools cover
methods for producing interim assessments of site features and
their responses to pressures, as well as developing more robust
indicators for determining condition of the features. The reports
include the second cycle of the conservation status assessment reports under the
EU Habitats Directive, Charting Progress 2 and
the OSPAR quality status
report. JNCC continues to develop and pilot tools for the
assessment of marine habitats and species in offshore waters to
improve the quality and transparency of our assessments, and
contribute to the monitoring of marine biodiversity in UK
waters.

Under the Marine and Coastal Access
Act (2009), JNCC
is required to report to ministers on the degree to which the
conservation objectives of the protected features of MCZs have been
achieved. The act also requires a report every six years from
2012 setting out how MCZs have performed against their conservation
objectives, as well as the effectiveness of the network. These
assessments will also feed into six yearly reports on the state of
the marine environment under the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive, which aims to achieve good environmental status by
2020.